Typically, the below is not a tweet that I would bother writing an article on. However, the New York Jets are not in typical times, as the organization seems to be in a complete free-fall into madness in recent weeks. In light of that, anything seems possible, so who knows and maybe this is at least somewhat accurate? Given the size of the claim, it’s probably worth mentioning.
I can add this from the @AlbertBreer report- It’s been jokingly mentioned for several years in league circles that’s Woody’s son Brick Johnson is the de facto GM of the @nyjets , specifically when it comes to “Internet influences decision making,” which is exactly what took… https://t.co/j7Zbqd9QVk
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) November 21, 2024
Basically, Pauline seems to be implying that the recent report of the New York Jets being moved by social media is not from owner Woody Johnson monitoring social media and providing ideas but rather that it’s through his son monitoring social media and providing ideas. Johnson’s son is roughly 17 years old, so this is quite the report.
For reference, Tony Pauline is a long-time NFL insider who is currently with SportsKeeda. He has previously alluded to several things that have come to pass, such as the general dysfunction of the New York Jets front office and the de-powering of general manager Joe Douglas when he wrote the below this February:
I’m told that during exit interviews with players after the 2022 season, owner Woody Johnson decided to interject on several occasions. When Johnson chose to be part of the interview, Douglas was described as being a bystander, which is not the norm for most franchises.
Johnson’s greater than typical involvement and Douglas’ lessened centrality both seem to have been confirmed this week via a report from the Athletic.
Similarly, Pauline reported on a “rift” between then head coach Adam Gase and then general Mike Maccagnan in April 2019. At the time Pauline’s report was largely panned with the New York Post going as far as to write the below within the article linked in the previous sentence:
[Firing Maccagnan] would make no sense because the Jets allowed Maccagnan to help hire Gase, spend more than $120 million in free agency and make the draft picks for the team.
However, this was also seemingly confirmed all the same when Mike Maccagnan was fired just weeks later
Altogether, this report of team owner Woody Johnson’s son driving roster decisions seems a bit extreme, but Pauline does have some credibility when it comes to the inner workings of the New York Jets specifically based on recent years. This would also not be the first time a team owner has let his son shadow run a team, with speculation long-persisting that the New York Mets were being run in-part by team owner Fred Wilpon’s son Jeff Wilpon prior to the team’s sale to now-owner Steve Cohen.
Who knows? Just another piece to the very chaotic puzzle that is the 2024 New York Jets.
However, even if true, one should not blame a child for being given this kind of access and power within decision-making. What 17-year-old doesn’t have ideas on what an NFL team should do? I know I did. With that in mind, this would reflect far more poorly on those who enable as much, especially since the ideas don’t seem to be working based on the 2024 season to date (if the report is true).